Internal combustion engine and structure therefor



Sept- 1934. c. BALOUGH 1,972,752

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND STRUCTUR'h THEREFOR Original Filed May 2,1929 2 Sheets-Sheet v 1 gnwntoz p 1934- c. ALousu 1,972,752

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND STRUCTURE THEREFOR Original Filed May 2,1929 w ZSheets-Sheet 2 gnvenioo Patented Sept. 4, 1934 Y I I I INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINE AND STRUCTURE THEREFOR Charles Balouglr'," Canton,Ohio, assignor to Hercules Motors Corporation, Canton, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio .Reflied for abandoned application Serial No.

359,863, May 2, 1929. This application November 22, 1930, Serial No.497,589

12 Claims. (Cl. 121-194) My invention relates to internal combustionento its strength if the access openings were not gines and tostructures for such engines, and provided in the crank case, it beingunderstood this application is a substitute for my abandoned that accessopenings usually weaken an engine application. Serial No. 359,863, filedMay 2, 1929. structure.

r Internal combustion motors as now constructed A further object of thepresent invention is'to 60 are of two general types relative to thevalve provide an internal combustion motor comprising mechanism, one ofwhich embodies a construction a relativelyelight removable cylinderblock proin which the valves are carried by the cylinder vided with thevalve mechanism.

block and the other of which embodies a con- A still further object ofthe invention isto proin struction in which the valves are carried bythe vide an internal combustion motor comprising a 65 cylinder head.relatively deep crank case, a relatively shallow Prior motorconstructions in which the valves cylinder block supported on said crankcase for were carried by the block necessitated grinding of expeditiousremoval therefrom and assembly the valves in the block in assembledrelation with thereon, said crank case and said cylinder block 15 thecrankcase or necessitated a laborious task of provided with interrelatedalining means. 70,

removing the block for grinding the valves at a A still further objectof the invention is to probench. vide an internal combustion motorcomprising a While in the valve-in-head type of motors now crank case, acylinder block rcm y S pp d constructed the valves can readily be groundas 0n Said Crank d Cylinder b oc be ng DIO- a bench job the presentinvention has a primary vided with cylindrical extensions projectinginto 75 object to provide a motor construction of the said crank case,said cylindrical extensions alinvalve-in-block type wherein the block isreadily ing with cylindrical bores in said cylinder block removable forfacilitating grinding of the valves forming the cylinders, and saidcrank case profor reboring the cylinders and in order to readily videdwith receiving and centering means for P5 secure access to the pistons.v said extensions. "so

In engines'including separable cylinder blocks A still further object ofthe invention is to proand crank cases, it has been diflicult to attainvide an internal combustion motor comprising a strength and rigidity forsuch a composite struca crank case embody g a p u y of main arture equalto the'st'rength and rigidity of a one i gS. a crank S a rotatablySupported in said piece cylinder block and crank case structure.bearings by removable bearing caps, a cylinder The objects of thepresent improvements inblock removably supported on said crank case, aclude the provision of an engine structure, cylinder d va y supp t d nsa d ylincluding a cylinder block and a separate crank i d b oc a d C oa s or maintaining case, connected with each other in such manner sa dheating caps, cylinder block and cylinder 3 that the strength andrigidity of the resulting head in assembled relation. structureapproximates the strength and rigidity -A still further object of theinvention is to P of a one piece cylinder block and crank case? vide aninternal combustion motor comprising a structure, it being understoodthat a one piece nk Case, bearings Supported in Said Crank Ca cylinderblock is generally believed to approach a crank shaft rotatablysupported in S d ea maximum strength and rigidity. ings by bearing caps,bolts projecting through Further objects of the improvements include dbearings and Said p and P d with the provision of an engine structureincluding a nuts holding Said p i Operative position, a crank case madeof aluminum or like material, ylind r lo k rem v lv pp r n said crankand a cylinder block made of cast iron or like case, acylinder headremovably supported on said material, and connected witheach other insuch cylinder block, said cylinder block and said cylmanner as tosubject the crank case largely to vinder head being retained inassembled position compression loads, and substantially eliminating bysaid bolts. the application of tension loads to the crank case, A stillfurther object of the invention isto proit being understood that the useof aluminum favide an internal combustion motor comprising a 50cilitates the attainment of a light weight engine crank case providedwith crank shaft bearings,

structure. shouldered bolts projecting vertically through Furtherobjects of the improvements include said bearings and above said crankcase, the inner the provision of an engine structure including a ends ofsaid bolts extending through bearing caps crank case having accessopenings therein, and and provided with nuts for maintaining said bear-55 having a strength and rigidity substantially equal ing caps inposition, a cylinder block and a cylinder head supported by said crankcase through both of which said bolts extend, and said bolts providedwith nuts on the outer. ends thereof for drawing said cylinder block andsaid cylinder head into assembled position.

These and other objects are attained in the present invention as willhereinafter be set forth in detail and claimed.

A preferred embodiment'of the improvements is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is afragmentary transverse sectional view as on line 1-1, Figs. 2 and 3, ofan internal combustion engine including the improved engine structurehereof, the walls about one of the valves in the cylinder block beingbroken away;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view thereof as on line2-2, Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary plan sectional view thereof as on line 3--3, Figs.1 and 2; and

Fig. 4, a, detached fragmentary transverse sectional view thereof as online 4-4, Fig. 3.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The internal combustion engine indicated generally at 10 includes incombination with other usual parts of an engine, a crank case 11, acylinder block 12, and a cylinder head 13.

For attaining lightness, the crank case 11 is preferably made ofaluminum, aluminum alloy, or like material. On the other hand forattaining strength and rigidity, the cylinder block 12 is preferablymade of semi-steel, cast iron or the like; and likewise the cylinderhead 13 may be made of cast iron.

The crank case includes laterally spaced side walls 14 and 14 and aplurality of longitudinally spaced transverse walls 15 and 15' extendingbetween and connected with the side walls. The transverse walls may beeither end walls or intermediate walls.

In order to permit access to the interior of the crank case, the wall14' may have formed therein a plurality of access openings 16, each ofwhich may extend for a greater portion of the length between any two ofthe transverse walls, such as 15 and 15.

These access openings weaken theside wall 14, and other members of thestructure about to be described are adapted not only for counteractingthe weakening of the side wall 14' by the access openings 16, but alsofor providing a strength and rigidity for the resulting engine structureapproximately equal to that which it would have if the crank case andcylinder block were made in one piece. I V

The side wall 14 extends from the inner end of an outwardly projectinglongitudinally extending flange Ma at the bottom face 17 of the crankcase, upwardly and inwardly towards the vertical axial plane Y-Y' of theengine to an inwardly projecting longitudinally extending flange 14b atthe top face 18 of the crank case.

Accordingly the wall 14 and its flanges 14a and 14!: comprise in onesense a Z beam B having a depth equal to the distance between the topand bottom of the crank case, with respect to loads or components in thevertical plane; and in another sense comprise a box beam flange having awidth equal to the distance between top and bottom of the crank case,with respect-to loads or components in the horizontal plane.

The wall 14' extends from the inner end of a similar outwardlyprojecting longitudinally extending flange 14a upwardly and inwardlytowards the vertical axial plane Y-Y'. Asaforesaid, the wall 14 has theapertures 16 formed therein, and does not extend without a break theentire distance to the top 18. Without the structu'ral reinforcementsabout to be described, the wall 14' would not be as strong either as aweb beam against loads or components in the vertical plane, or as theflange of a box beam against loads or components in the horizontalplane.

Obviously both walls 14 and 14' and their structurally cooperatingelements,-should be equally strong against both horizontal and verticalloads or components.

Accordingly the wall 14' extends outwardly intermediate the bottom andtop surfaces 17 and 18 of the crank case, and includes at one side anoutwardly projecting longitudinally extending flange 14c, and at theother side an inwardly projecting longitudinally extending transverselyarched flange 14d, both the flanges 14'0 and 14d ,being locatedintermediate the bottom and top of the crank case.

The wall 14' and its bottom flange 14'a and top flanges 140' and 14'dcomprise a distorted channel beam B which is designed to have suflicientcross sectional area to equal the strength against vertical loads orcomponents, of the Z beam B formed bythe wall 14 and its flanges 14a and14b, provided that suitable means transmit the vertical loads to theaforesaid crank case side beams B and B of different cross sections,that is a distorted channel section for the one, and a 2 section for theother.

The distorted channel beam B is likewise designed to be substantiallyequal as a box beam flange against horizontal loads or components, tothe strength of the Z beam B. provided that suitable means transmit theloads between the beams B and B.

The means for transmitting loads to and between the side beams B and Binclude a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse webs 19, eachextending at their lower end between the walls 14 and 14', and at eachside between the top and 12g bottom of the crank case, andeach beingpreferably provided'with a central notch opening 20 .1 The severalcolumns at each side of the center line of the engine,'are preierabh'longitudi nally alined with each other, and their extreme upper ends maybe connected by longitudinally extending ribs 22.

As best illustrated in Fig. i, the inner end of the longitudinallyextending arched flange 14'd projecting inwardly from the wall 14',preferably connects with the column member at that side of the engine;and the arched flange M'd is spaced a substantial distance below theupper end of the columns, and below the lower edges of the ribs 22,providing clear longitudinally spaced openings between the columns.

The bore in each of the tubular columns re 3 5i Y in the cylinder head13.

ceives the lower end'23 of an improved clamp bolt 24, each of whichincludes'an eccentric collar 25 formed thereon intermediate its ends,and each eccentric collar 25 is seated in a counterbore 26 formed in theupper end of the crank case and eccentric to the bore of its column.

The lower end 23 of each clamp bolt extends through the bore of itscolumn, and below the bottom of the crank case through an apertureformed at one side of a main crank shaft bearing cap 27.

The extremity of each lower end 23 of each clamp bolt extends below thecap 27 and is threaded, and a nut 28 is screwed thereon and securelyclamps the cap to the crank case, and anchors the bolt 24 in the crankcase. Each eccentric head 25 serves to prevent its clamp bolt fromturning during the application of the nut 28, and each head also reactsagainst its nut for anchoring the clamp bolt in the crank case, and thematerial in the crank case is thus subject to compression between eachcap and each eccentric head 25.

In the lower end of each web 19 preferably between each pair oftransversely spaced clamp bolts, and in the upper end of each cap 2'7,semicircular complementary seats are formed for a crank shaft bearing293 secured therein. and the crank shaft 29 is mounted for rotation inthe usual manner in the several crank shaft bearings 2913.

The cylinder block 12 includes a plurality of cylinders 30 each of whichpreferably includes a skirt 31 extending into the upper end of the crankcase between the longitudinally and transversely spaced clamp bolts andcolumns.

The cylinder block 12 also includes a plurality of cylindric tubularcolumns 32 and 32 registering with the columns 21 and 21' of the crankcase, as well as other columns including the columns 32a, 32'b, and 320registering with the other columns of the crank case, including thecolumns 21a, 21b, and 21c, respectively.

Each clamp bolt 24 includes above the eccentric collar 25, an upper end33 extending through the bore of the registering column in the cylinderblock, and preferably through a registering bore The extremity of eachclamp bolt upper end 33 is threaded and a nut 34 screwed thereonsecurely clamps the cylinder block and cylinder head to the crank case,forming in effect an integral structure.

In the crank case below the arched flange 14'd and between the wall 14and the adjacent clamp rods, cam shaft bearings 35 are mounted, and acam shaft 36 is journalled in the bearings.

A longitudinally extending push rod guide member 3'7, which is alsosometimes known as a clus ter, has formed at one side thereof a verticalface 38 which seats against the outer ends of lugs 39 projectingoutwardly from the web columns.

Horizontally extending cap screws 40 pass through. horizontal bores inthe cluster 37 and are screwed in threaded sockets in the lugs 39;

The cluster 37 includes outwardly extending feet 41, having angled borestherein, through each of which a cap screw 42 extends and is angleddownwardly and towards the center line of the engine, and is screwedinto an angled threaded bore. in a lug extension 43 of the flanges 14'cand 14d.

The abutting faces between the feet 41 and the lugs 43 are preferablyhorizontal, and the combined clamping and crowding action of thehorizontally extending screws 40 and the downing the cluster serve tostifien the crankcase between bearings.

Each access opening .16 is provided with a cover 45 which may be securedon the engine as by means of screws 46 extending through suitableapertures in the cover, and screwed into threaded sockets in the headsof the screws 40.

The foregoing engine structure thus includes a cylinder block and aseparate crank case, with no flanges at the joint between the cylinderblock and crank case, and the cylinder block having access openingstherein, but being substantially as strong as if it had no accessopenings, by reason of the distorted channel beam side member, and byreason of the compression clamp connection of the crank case with thecylinder block.

I claim;

1. An engine structure including a crank case, a cylinder block, and acylinder head, the crank case including spaced side walls and one of theside walls having an access opening formed therein, and the crankcase'including from end to end thereof a longitudinally continuousexternally flanged beamporti'on located below the access opening,transversely extending webs connecting the side walls and extending fromtop to bottom of the crank case at opposite sides of the access opening,bores in the webs extending from top to bottom of the crank case, boresin the cylinder block registering with bores in the crank case, bores inthe cylinder head registering with the crank case and cylinder blockbores, and

clamping bolts extending through the bores and separably connecting thecrank case, cylinder block, and cylinder head together.

2. An engine structure including a crank case, a cylinder block, and acylinder head, the crank case including spaced side walls and one of theside walls having an access opening formed therein, and the crank caseincluding from end to end thereof a longitudinally continuous externallyflanged beam portion located below the access opening, transverselyextending webs connecting the side walls and extending from top tobottom of the crank case at opposite sides of the access opening, boresin the webs extending from top to bottom of the crank case, bores in thecylinder block registering with bores in the crank case, bores in thecylinder head registering with the crank case and cylinder block bores,clamping bolts extending through the bores and separably connecting thecrank case, cylinder block, and cylinder head together, and a collar oneach clamping bolt between the cylinder block and the crank case.

3. An engine structure including a crank case, a cylinder block, and acylinder head, the crank case including spaced side walls and one of theside walls having an access opening formed therein, and the crank caseincluding from end to end thereof a longitudinally continuous externallyflanged beam portion located below the access opening, transverselyextending webs connecting the side walls and extending from top tobottom of the crank case at opposite sides of the access opening, boresin the webs extending from top to bottom of the crank vase, bores in thecylinder block registering with bores in the crank case,

- bores in the cylinder head registering with the crank case andcylinder block bores, clamping bolts extending through the bores andseparably connecting the crank case, cylinder block, and

cylinder head together, and a counterbore at the end of each crank casebore adjacent the cylinder block, and eccentric collars on the clampingbolts, the eccentric collars fitting in the counterbores.

4. An engine structure including a crank case, a cylinder block, and acylinder head, the crank case including spaced side walls and one of theside walls having an access opening formed therein, transverselyextending webs connecting the side walls and extending from top tobottom of the crank case, bores in the webs extending from top to bottomof the crank case, bores in the cylinder block registering with thebores in the crank case, bores in the cylinder head registering with thebores in the cylinder block and the crank case, clamping bolts extendingthrough the bores and connecting the crank case. cylinder block, andcylinder head together, and a collar on each clamping bolt between thecylinder block and the crank case.

5. An engine structure including a crankcase,

a cylinder block, and a cylinder head, the crank case including spacedside walls and one of the side walls having an access opening formedtherein, transversely extending webs connecting-the.

, cylinder block registering with the bores in the crank case, bores inthe cylinder head registering with the bores in the cylinder block andthe crank case, clamping bolts extending through the bores andconnecting the crank case, cylinder block, and cylinder head together,and a counter- .bore at the end of each crank case bore adjacent 'thecrankcase, bores in the cylinder head registering with the bores in thecylinder block and the crank case, clamping bolts extending through thebores and connecting the crank case, cylinder block, and cylinder headtogether, and a counterbore at the end of each crank case bore adjacentthe cylinder block, and eccentric collars on the clamping bolts, theeccentric collars fitting in the counterbores, and a member extendinglongitudinally across the transverse webs and removably connectedtherewith.

'7. An engine structure including a crank case, a cylinder block, and acylinder head, the crank case including spaced sidewalls and one of theside walls having an access opening formed therein, transverselyextending webs connecting the side walls and extending from top tobottom of the crank case, bores in the webs extending from top to bottomof the crank case, bores in the cylinder block registering with thebores in the crank case, bores in the cylinder head'registering with thebores in the cylinder block and the crank case, clamping bolts extendingthrough the bores and connecting the crank case, cylinder block, andcylinder head together, a collar on each clamping bolt between thecylinder block and the crank case, rows of seats formed on thetransverse webs, a member extending longitudinally across the transversewebs on the seats thereof, apertures formed in the longitudinallyextending member and angled acutely with respect to one row of seats,and screws extending through the angled apertures into the webs andcrowding the longitudinally extending member against the other row ofseats.

8. An internal combustion motor comprising av crank case; a cylinderblock provided with intake and exhaust valves removably supported onsaid crank case; a cylinder head removably supported on said cylinderblock; and common securing means for said crank case; cylinder block'and cylinder head.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 in which said crank case and saidcylinder block are provided with co -operating means for aligning saidblock and said case. I

10. An internal combustion motor comprising a crank case; crank shaftbearings supported within said crank case; bearing caps removablysecured to said bearings; a valve supporting cyl- -inder block removablysupported on said crank case; a cylinder head removably supported onsaid cylinder block; bolts extending through said on said crank case; acylinder head removably.

supported on said cylinder block; said cylinder block supporting intakeandexhaust valve mechanism; and common securing means for. removablymaintaining said block in said crank case and said head on said blockwhereby upon removal of said head said'block is free for removal fromsaid crank case.

CHARLES BALOUGH.

